Garment garter



T'. J. KELLY GARMENT @ARTER Feb.. 9, 1932.

Filed NOV. 2, 1929 .f il! ITI/Lgf. 2.

gva/vento@ Flo/m51 WELL);

Patented Feb. 9, i932 retries @rtree THOMAS J'. KELLY, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, NDANA GARMENT GARTEB,

Application led November 2, 1929. Serial No. 404,311.

It is the object of my invention to produce a garter or hose supporter adapted to be used to supp-ort mens half-hose, which garter will not bind the leg of the wearer or produce discomfort, which can be produced economically in association with an undergarment, and which can readily be removed from the undergarment when desired.

I accomplish the above objects by providing on the undergarment, desirably slightly below the knee and on the inside of the leg, a loop through which there passes an elastic strap the ends of which may carry the usual button and eye for attachment to the hose.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Fig. 1 is a. perspective view illust-rating the garter in use; and Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the elastic strap removed from the undergarment.

As shown in Fig. 1,1 provide on the undergarment 10 a loop 11 through which there passes a strap 12 of elastic material. To one end of the strap 12 is secured a button 13 and to the other end is secured an eye 14 adapted y' to co-operate with the button to grip the 11pper end of the hose 15.

Desirably, in the vicinity of the loop 11 the undergarment is provided with a reinforcing band 16. This reinforcing band may be produced in the knitting of the underwear. It

is desirably loosely woven or knitted in order that it may conform to the shape of the garment and the leg of the wearer. By reason of the fact that the band is really a part of the undergarment, it need not grip the leg as the ordinary elastic garter-band does; for it is supported by reason of its attachment to the undergarment. With my garter, the hose are supported from the shoulders of the wearer, and no uncomfortable gripping of the leg is needed. l

Instead of forming the reinforcing band 16 during the knitting of the undergarment, it may be formed as a separate band which A" is attached to the outside of the leg of the undergarment. lf this is done, the band is desirably woven or knitted so that it will have a measure of elasticity in order that it may grip the leg slightly to aid in supporting the hose.

Instead of forming the band 16 inthe knit'- ting of the undergarment, or instead of securing it to the outside of the undergarment, the leg of the undergarment may be formed of two parts one of which extends down to and is'secured at its lower end to the band and the other of which is secured to the band and extends downwardly therefrom. These three methods of forming the reinforcing band are s et forth merely as examples, as my invention is not concerned with any particular form or width of reinforcing band.

Desirably, the loop 11 is formed yas a part ofthereinforcing band 16 in order that the strain placed upon the loop may be distributed around the leg of the undergarment through the reinforcing band.

n 1n use, the" wearerdraws one end of the elastic strap 12 through the loop 11 and then secures the strap to the hoseby engagement of the buttonl and eye le. The reinforcing band 16 prevents the ends of the loop 11 from being torn from the undergarment, distributes around the leg of the vundergarment the strain incident to supporting the hose, and

also possibly aids directly in supporting the hose by fitting snugly against the leg Iof the wearer. rlhis snug fit is notfand need not be such a tight and uncomfortable gripping of the leg as is vproduced yin the usual elastic garter, for the hose is supported primarily by reason of its attachment to the leg of the undergarment 10.

TWhen it is desired to replace the elastic strap 12 or when it is desired to have the undergarment laundered, the strap 12 can be readily withdrawn from the loop after it has been disengaged from the hose.

l claim as my invention:

1. Hose supporting means, comprising in combination with an undergarment having legs, a reinforcing band associated With each of said legs below the knee and above the lower end thereof7 a loop secured to each of said bands and extending generally circumferentially of said leg, and an elastic tape passing through said loop and being provided at its ends with means for` securing it to the hose.

2. Hose supporting means, comprising 1n combination with an undergarment having legs, a reinforcing band interwoven with each of said legs below the knee and above the lower end thereof, a loop secured to each of said reinforcing bands and extending generally circumferentially of said leg, and an elastic tape passing through said loop and being provided at its ends with means for securing it to the hose. c

3. In an undergarment having legs, a reinforcing band associated with each of said legs below the knee and above the lower end thereof, said band being interwoven with its associated leg circumferentially thereof but being free therefrom over a portion adapted to lie at the inside of the wearers leg, the free portion of said band forming a loop adapted to support a stocking by means of an elastic tape.

4. In an undergarment having legs, a reinforcing band associated with each of said legs below the knee and above the lower vend thereof', said band being vsecured toits associated leg circumferentially thereof vbut being free therefrom over a portion adapted to lie at the inside `of the wearers leg, the free portion of said band forming a loop adapted to support a stocking by means of an elastic tape. Y

p 5. Hose supporting means, comprising in combination with an undergarment having legs, a reinforcing band associated with each of said legs below the knee'andY above the lower end thereof, said band being interwoven ywith its associated leg circumferentially hereof but being free therefrom over a portion, the free portion of said band'forming a circumferentially extending loop,and an elastic tape adapted to be secured to said loop and provided with means for securing it to the hose.`

In witness whereof, "I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 29th day of October, A. D; one thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine.

THOMAS J. KELLY. 

